Low-foam rinsing and washing agents for dish washers

ABSTRACT

Low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions adapted for dishwashers consisting essentially of (A) from 70 percent to 98 percent by weight of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohols having a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 4,000, and (B) from 2 percent to 30 percent by weight of interface active compounds containing oxypropylene and/or oxbutylene radicals which may contain oxyethylene units, as well as aqueous solutions containing said low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions.

United States Patent 2 Jakobi I LOW-FOAM RINSING AND WASHING AGENTS FORDISH WASHERS [72] inventor: Gunter Jakobi, Hilcien, Rhine, Germany [73]Assignee: Henkel 8: Cie GmbH, Dusseldorf- Holthausen, Germany [22]Filed: Feb. 17, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 799,933

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 14, i968 Gcrmany............l-i 6560i [52] US. Cl ..252/89, 252/321, 252/358,

' 252/DIG. l, 252/DIG. 2 [5i] ..Clld 1/68 [58] 252/89, 321,323,368,DIG.l, 252/DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Tarell ..2s2/s9 [1513,635,827 [4s] Jan. 18, 1972 3,254,028 5/l966 Wixonm; ..252/89 3,382,]78 5/1968 Lissant et al ..252/32l OTHER PUBLICATIONS Biehn et al., PVAosan emulsifying agent. lnd. & Eng. Chem. Aug. 1948 pages 1449- 1453Primary Examiner-Leon D. Rosdol Assistant Examiner-William F. SchulzAttorney-Hammond and Litteli [57] ABSTRACT 1 9 m WWW.

THE PRIOR ART in an increasing measure, mechanical washing methods arebeing employcdtc wash china, glass, porcelain, ceramic, metal andsynthetic articles. Detergents containing specific surface-activecompounds are generally utilized. These deterso that they do not afiectthe large a volume, caused and increased by the vigorous motion of thebath in the machine, leads to considerable trouble, as the foam massdecreases the mechanical effect of the liquid sprayed onto the articlesto be cleaned and furthermore may cause the bath in the machine to runover.

Recently, developments in washing apparatus have been directed towardfurther increasing the intensity of the liquor motion as well as thewater volume cycled per minute, and in this way to further improve themechanical cleansing effect. As a result of such developments, it wasfound that conventional washing agents, such as higher molecular weightsulfates or sulfonates, caused too much foam. For this reason, inpractice, nonionic surface-active agents such as ethylene oxide additionproducts to alkylphenols or polypropylene glycols, have been preferred.These products, as well, were found to have a relatively high foamingtendency in the ranges of concentration required for satisfactorywetting and cleansing effect when used in the modern dishwashingmachines.

it has also been suggested to utilize combinations of effective wettingagents of the known type of ethylene oxide addition products, withfoam-inhibiting agents, such as ethylene oxide-propylene oxide mixedadducts with fatty alcohols or alkylphenois. However, such combinationsrequire relatively large additions of the foam inhibitors in order todecrease, to a reasonable extent, the tendency of the combination tofoam.

A further considerable disadvantage of the named alltyiene oxideaddition products is that they are not biologically decomposed to asufficient extent. For this reason, they often play a part in theformation of foam on sluices, dams and overflows. Furthermore, suchproducts often exhibit, even in small amounts of only a few mg./l., adistinct toxicity toward fish and other water organisms. Thus, they canrepresent a considerable and undesired burden on waste waters and theirtreatment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is the obtention ofhighly effective and extremely low-foaming dish and general purposedetergent combinations for dishwashers which do not cause any wastewater problems due to their biological harmiessness.

A further object is the obtention of low-foaming rinsing and washingcompositions adapted for dishwashers consisting essentially of (A) from70 percent to 98 percent by weight of water-soluble polyvinyl alcoholshaving a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 4,000, and (B) from 2percent to 30 percent by weight of interface active compounds based onaikyiene oxide adducts selected from the group consisting of l) apolyoxypropyiene glycol having an average number of xypropylene units ofbetween l7 and 86, adducted with from 0 to 30 mol percent of oxyethyleneunits, the total number of oxypropylene and oxyethylene units in saidadduct being 100 mol percent (2) a propylene oxide adduct of ahydrocarbon compound having from two to 10 carbon atoms and at least tworeactive hydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of aiitanes,benzene and aikylbenzenes, substituted with substituents selected fromthe group consisting of hydroxy, amino, and mixtures thereof, saidpropylene oxide adduct having an average number of oxypropylene units ofbetween and 84, adducted with from 0 to 30 mol percent of oxyethyieneunits, the total number of oxypropylene units and oxyethyiene units insaid adduct being 100 mol percent and (3) an alkyiene oxide adduct of ahigh molecular weight lipophiiic radical of the formula:

wherein R represents a radical having from eight to 36 carbon atomsselected from the group consisting of alkyi, alkenyl, alkadienyl,monohydroxyalkenyl and alkylphenyl and Y represents a bridging linkselected from the group consisting of 0, S, COO, NH, CON", and S0,Nl-l;adducted first with ybutylene, said oxycthylene being from 0 to 70 molpercent of the total amount of oxyalkylene units present; from 2 tooxypropylene and oxybutylene units being present in said adduct.

Another object of the invention is the obtention of aqueous solutions ofthe above low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions.

A yet further object of the invention is the development of a method ofwashing and rinsing solid articles which comprises forcefully contactingsaid solid articles with water containing from 0.01 to 0.5 grams perliter of the above low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe description thereof proceeds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention relatesto low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions adapted for dishwashersbased on polyvinylalcohol and nonionic foam-suppressing agents, which isdistinguished by a good compatibility with waste waters and harmlessnessagainst fish and other water organisms.

in particular, these compositions are characterized by a content of (A)from 70 percent to 98 percent by weight of water-solublepoiyvinylalcohois having a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 4,000,and (B) from 2 percent to 30 percent by weight of interface activecompounds with a content of from 2 to 90 oxyalkylene units selected fromthe group consisting of oxypropylene and oxybutylene and preferably afurther content of l or more oxycthylene units where the amount ofoxypropylene and oxybutylene units is at least 30 percent of the totalamount of oxyalkylene units.

The claimed combination is extraordinarily low foaming even underextreme application conditions, both in household dishwashers as well asin commercial dishwashers. As a result of the high content ofpolyvinyialcohol, the compositions of the invention possess an excellentwetting effect with respect to hard surfaces such as porcelain,synthetics or metals. The combinations of the invention are particularlysuitable as lowfoaming, clear, rinsing agents for dishes and silverwareof all kinds, possibly with a preceding alkaline prewashing phase, aswell as for washing and clear rinsing of drinking glasses and otherglassware.

The special advantage of the combinations of the invention with respectto known low-foaming rinsing agents is that the requirement fornontoxicity with respect to fish and other water organisms is met to asatisfactory degree. Although poiyvinylalcohol used as the component Ais only slightly biologically decomposed, it can yet be considered asphysiologically harmless since it does not exhibit any toxic properties,whatsoever, toward those organisms which live in water. The interfaceactive compounds of type B are biologically decomposed to a satisfactorydegree, particularly where they have straight alltyi radicals and arelatively short polyoxyalkylene chain.

in proportion to the increase of length of the polyoxyaikyiene chain ofthe compounds of type B, the ability to biologically decomposedecreases, however, at the same time the toxicity of the compoundsdecreases as well. Other poorly decomposable compounds are the alkyleneoxide adducts with alkylphenois and the polypropylene giycols. Due tothe fact, however, that the foaming tendency of the polyvinyialcohol canbe suppressed effectively with the aid of very small amounts offoam-inhibiting alkylene oxide adducts of the type B, such compounds inpractice do not cause waste water problems to any appreciable respect.

The water-soluble polyvinylalcohols having a molecular weight of betweenl,000 and 4,000 used as component A are known products and are used inthe trade. They can be obtained, for instance, by means of hydrolysis ofpolyvinyl acetates of the corresponding degree of polymerization. Withinthe framework of this invention such water-soiuble polyvinylalcohols arepreferred which have a hydrolysis degree of 85 percent to 90 percent andhave molecular weights of approximately 1,000 to 3,000.

As compounds of group B propylene oxide polymers come into considerationsuch as are obtained by means of polymerization of propylene oxide oraddition of propylene oxide to lower molecular weight aliphaticcompounds containing at least two reactive hydrogen atoms, particularlyhydroxyl or amino groups with approximately two to six carbon atoms orto corresponding compounds with six to l carbon atoms. The reaction iscarried out according to known methods in the presence of alkalinecatalysts, preferably under pressure. The corresponding propylene oxidepolymers have molecular weights of 1,000 to 5,000 or from 17 to 86oxypropylene units, preferably 1,700 to 4,!00. Preferably up to 30 molpercent of ethylene oxide is added as calculated on the basis of thetotal amount of alkylene oxides.

The propylene oxide polymers of the above type are preferably eitherpolyoxypropylene glycols having an average number of oxypropylene unitsof between 17 and 86, corresponding to molecular weights of 1,000 to5,000, and more particularly polyoxypropylene glycols having an averagenumber of oxypropylene units of between 29 and 70, corresponding tomolecular weights of [,700 to 4,100, adducted with from 0 to 30 molpercent of oxyethylene units, the total number of oxypropylene andoxyethyiene units in said polymer being I00 moi percent; as well aspropylene oxide adducts of hydrocarbon compounds having from two tocarbon atoms and at least two reactive hydrogen atoms, preferablyselected from the group consisting of alkanes, benzene andaikylbenzenes, substituted with substituents selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, amino, and mixtures thereof, said propylene oxideadduct having an average number of oxypropylene units of between and 84,corresponding to molecular weights of 1,000 to 5,000, and moreparticularly having an average number of oxypropylene units of between27 and 68, corresponding to molecular weights of l,700 to 4,100, saidpropylene oxide adducts being adducted with from 0 to 30 mol percent ofoxyetltylene units, the total number of oxypropylene units andoxyethylene units in said adduct being 100 mol percent.

The propylene oxide polymers of type B are obtained in a known way bypolymerization of propylene oxide to obtain poiyoxypropylene glycols orby the addition of propylene oxide to compounds having from two to 10carbon atoms and at least two reactive hydrogen atoms. Thepolymerization and adduct formation is conducted in the presence ofalkaline catalysts such as sodium hydroxide, sodium methylate andothers. The compounds having from two to 10 carbon atoms which areadducted are aliphatic compounds having two to six carbon atoms such asethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,6- hexanediol glycerine, sugaralcohols, ethylene diamine, alkanolamines, for example, ethanolamine,dipropanolamine, etc., as well as aromatic and aliphatic aromaticcompounds having six to 10 carbon atoms, such as phenyiene diamine,pethanolaniline, etc., adduct of 4.5 mois of ethylene oxide topolypropylene glycol with a molecular weight of 1,750; the adduct of 7or 16 mois of ethylene oxide to a polypropylene glycol with a molecularweight of 2,750; the adduct of 8.5 mois of ethylene oxide to apolypropylene glycol consisting of 56 oxypropylene radicals; the adductof 35 mols of propylene oxide to glycerine; the adduct of 48 mois ofpropylene oxide and 7 mois of ethylene oxide to ethylene diamine, theadduct of 30 percent by weight of ethylene oxide to an polypropyleneglycol with a molecular weight of950.

Another method for the preparation of suitable compounds of type Bconsists in the addition of 2 to 90 mois of propylene oxide and/orbutylene oxide to higher molecular weight compounds with eight to 36carbon atoms which contain reactive hydrogen atoms bonded through theheteroatoms 0, S and N. The higher molecular weight compounds may bealiphatic, aliphatic-cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic. The aliphaticcompounds possess higher molecular weight radicals with eight to 36, andpreferably 10 to 20 carbon atoms and are preferably of the formula:

R-Yl-l wherein R represents a radical having from eight to 36 carbonatoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkadlenyland hydroxy-aikenyl, H represents a replaceable hydrogen and Yrepresents a bridging link selected from the group consisting of:

The aliphatic-aromatic compounds possess higher molecular weightradicals with 12 to 22, and preferably i4 to l8 carbon atoms and arepreferably of the formula:

R'-Y-ll wherein Y and H have the above-assigned values and R representsa radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms selected from the groupconsisting of alkylphenyl, alkylnaphthyl, al

koxy-phcnyl and alkylcyclohexyl. The hydrocarbon radicals R and R maycontain conventional substituents such as hydroxyl groups, halide atoms,or alkyl side chains.

Thus the following starting compounds for their preparation come intoconsideration: higher molecular weight aliphatic,aliphatic-cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic compounds, such asalcohols, alltylphenols, carboxylic acids, mercaptans, amines,carboxylic acid amides or alkanolamides, sulfonic acid amides, and thelike with eight to 36, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkylradicals can carry substitutes such as halogen atoms or can have sidechains. Preferably such adducts are used which, in addition tooxypropylene and/or oxybutylene units, have ,oxyethylene units as well.The number of oxypropylene and/or oxybutyiene units should be at least30 percent by moi of the total oxyalkylene units.

The alkylene oxide units to be added consist of 70 mol percent or lessof ethylene oxide and at least 30 to mol percent of propylene oxideand/or butylene oxide. When various alkylene oxides are used, as a ruleethylene oxide is added in the first step and thereafter propylene oxideand/or butylene oxide is then added. The reaction is accomplished in theusual manner, for example, by utilizing pressure in the presence ofalkaline catalysts.

Compounds of type B may also be prepared by reacting higher molecularweight aliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic compounds with compoundscontaining prepared polyoxyalkylene chains, for example, theesterification of higher molecular weight carboxylic acids withpolypropylene glycols or the etherification of higher molecular weightalcohols with polypropylene glycols.

Examples for suitable compounds of group B are the follow ing: theadduct of 2 mois of propylene oxide to dodecyl alcohol; the adduct of 3mois of propylene oxide to a fatty alcohol mixture of the chain length Cto C the adduct of 3 mois of ethylene oxide and 3 mois of propyleneoxide to dodecyl alcohol; the adduct of 2 mois of ethylene oxide and 4mois of propylene oxide or of 3 mois of ethylene oxide and 3 mois ofpropylene oxide to a fatty alcohol mixture of the chain length C to Cthe adduct of 7 mois of ethylene oxide and i0 mois of propylene oxide orof 9 mois of ethylene oxide and 16 mois of propylene oxide to a fattyalcohol mixture of the chain length C to C the adduct of 10 mois ofethylene oxide and 20 mois of propylene oxide to a fatty alcohol mixtureof the chain length C to C the adduct of 3 mois of ethylene oxide and of4 mois of propylene oxide to a dodecylphenol having a straight alkylchain; the adduct of 2 mois of ethylene oxide and 2 mois of propyleneoxide to nonylphenol; the adduct of 7 mois of ethylene oxide and 5 moisof butylene oxide to nonylphenol; the adduct of i2 mois of a mixturecontaining 40 mol percent of ethylene oxide and 60 mol percent ofpropylene oxide to dodecyl alcohol; the adduct of 2 mole of ethyleneoxide and 4 mols of propylene oxide to a coconut fatty acid mixture ofthe chain length C to C the adduct of 4 moi: of ethylene oxide and i2mols of propylene oxide to a fatty acid amide mixture of the chainlength C to are added into the washing and rinsing solution in the("lilwashing machines by means of on automatic dosing device as iscommon for such purposes.

The following specific embodiments of the invention are ilw; the adductf 4 mols of propylene oxide to dodecyismlne; 5 iustrative thereof. it isobvious, however, that other expedients the adduct of 2 mols of ethyleneoxide and 3 mols of may be employed and the specific embodiments are notto be propylene oxide to tetradecylrnercaptan. deemed iimitative in anymanner.

Of particular interest are, in particular, the adducts of ethylene oxideand propylene oxide to higher molecular EXAMPLES might f 9 v yt thefatty aimhol 10 The foam behavior of different cleansing and rinsingadmixducis l shot} alkl'lene Wide fi are employed tures was examined forcomparison purposes in a special foam due 1biologicaldeci-lmpclsablmyexamination apparatus. The following tableexhibits the ex- The individual components. the 8 rinsing tremely goodfoam behavior of the compositions of the invenagents of theinvention-amount to approximately 70 l 5 tiom percent to 98 percent byweight of component A and 2 percent to 30 percent by weight of componentB. in practice it was in particular that mixtures from 85 percent to 95percent by weight of component A and 5 percent to percent by weight ofcomponent B are particularly suitable.

When the mixtures are used for the washing of dishes, particularly ofdrinking glasses, concentrations of approximately 0.05 to 0.5 gnu/liter.preferably 0.1 to 0.4 gmJliter in the cleaning fluid are required. ifemployed as rinsing agent subsequent to an alkaline washing phase,approximately 0.01 to 0.25 gmJlltcr, preferably 0.02 to 0.1 gmJiiter areused. To a certain degree the concentrations are dependent upon thehardness of the water and the type of dishes. When washing or rinsing,utilizing hard and salty waters, or with plastic dishes, greater amountsof the rinsing agents are required.

Usefuiiy, the compositions of the invention are prepared in the form ofaqueous concentrates with a content of approximately l0 percent topercent by weight of mixtures of components A and B. By variation of theamount of the components, the concentrates can be adjusted in such waythat they possess a good temperature stability and do not tend toprecipitate or separate into layers. Usefully, the concentrates The foamapparatus as used was constructed in similu manner as a moderndishwasher operating according to the jet spray system. By means of apump about 170 liters of water per minute were rotated and sprayed intothe metering chamber by means of a rotating spray-arm provided withnozzles. Foam heads from 0 to 280 mm. may be measured -in reproduciblemanner, whereas larger'foam volumes can no longer be measuredaccurately, and, therefore, they are indicated in the table as 280. Theliquor temperature during the tests was C., the hardness of the waterused was l6 dB and the duration of the foam test lasted 5 minutes. Thereading of the foam height was done immediately after the machine cameto a standstill and 30 seconds after the machine had come to a stop.

The foam apparatus is described in "Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmittel,"66(1964]. page 529.

The abbreviations used in the table have the following meanings:

E0 mole of ethylene oxide PrO mole of propylene oxide The letters A andB represent the component types in the compositions in accordance withthe preceding.

TABLE Foam height in mm.

30 see. On alter Cone, standstand- Examplo Composition of mixturegum/liter still still is A. Polyvlu lalcohol viscosity 0! s47 sola- 0.12280 280 gm) at 20 0., 8 c p., hydrolysis degree: 1b A. Izilyvlnylalcohol according to la 0.12 B. Fatty a10oholCn-Qi|+8EO+8PrO 0. 008 5 02. A. Poi inyittlcoaol according to Is 0.12 B. 0xo aicohol-O+ii1ii0+8PrO 0. 024 70 5 8 A. Polyvin laicohot according to Is 0.12 B.Nouylp enol+0E0+2Pr0 0.010 30 0 4 A. Poi via iaieohol accordln to la0.12 B. Fei ty sibouot-ct-owsao -rtrro 0.008 20 0 6a A. Polyvinylalcohoi(viscosity at M? solu- 0.12 280 28 3%? )at 20 0;, 15 op., hydrolysisticgres:

p. 5b A. 01 via lalcohol accortilu tolia 0.12 B. F8tyflli0h01-u-0ii+3E.+4Pt0 0.00 10 0 0"... A. Poi inylalcohoiaccordlng to its. 0.12 B. Entitalcohal-On-Urs'i'iiE0-i-18Pr0 0. 000 16 v 0 7a A. Pol in lalcoholviscosity alas? soluo. 12 280 280 glam}? 28 C 25 c p., hydrolysistiegrcet 7b A. i t tiyvinyialcohol according to 7a 0.12 B. Fattyalwh0l-C -Cn-l-3E0+3Pr0 0.008 0 8 A. P'tlyvinylalcohol according to 7a0.12 H B. Nouylpheno1+12E0+30PrO 0.008 20 0 9 A. Polyvin lalcoitolaccording to la 0.12 15 0 B. Dodecyl mine-l-sliro 0.009 0 A.Polyvlnylalcohol according to la 0.12 B. Fatty BIDQhOI-Cu-Crri-BPIO0.009 10 0 '1 A. Poiyvinylalcohol according to 111.. 0.12 Y B. FattyaIcohoI-O -G HPrO 0.009 20 0 12 A. Pol vln lalcohoi according to la 0.12B. Polgprogylons glycol (MW 2,250)+6E0 0. 009 10 0 t 1 0.12 18 APolyvinylaicohol according o a 0.009 15 0 B Polypropylene glycol (MW1,760) +4.5E0.

EXAMPLE l4 A liquid rinsing agent suitable for commercial dishwashershad the following composition:

20 percent Polyvinylalcohol (viscosity of a 4 percent solution at 20 C.,3 cp., hydrolysis degree: 88 percent) 2 percent Fatty alcohol--C,,C +3EO-i-3 PrO 78 percent Water At application temperatures of between 50 C.and 90 C., the product developed practically no foam. it was dosed inconcentrations of 0.4 to 0.6 g./liter into the rinsing water subsequentto the alkaline main washing of the dishes. Dirt free, shining disheswere obtained.

EXAMPLE IS A very low-foaming detergent for household dishwashers hadthe following composition:

l0.0 percent by weight of poiyvinylalcohol (viscosity of a 4 percentsolution at 20' C., 15 cp., hydrolysis degree: 86 percent) 0.6 rgrcentby weight of fatty alcohoi-C,-C +5 EO+4 Pr 89.4 percent by weight ofwater At an application concentration of 0.5 to L5 gm.liiter, anunobjectionable washing and clear drying effect was obtained.

EXAMPLE [6 For the rinsing of drinking glasses and other dishes in ahousehold dishwasher a mixture of the following composition wasparticularly suitable:

10 percent of poiyvinyialcohol (l5 cp., hydrolysis degree:

86 percent) 0.5 percent of fatty alcohol--C,,-C +5 EO-i-l 3 PrO 89.5percent of water.

At application concentrations of 0.4 to 0.6 gJliter an unobjectionablewashing and clear drying effect was obtained without the occurrence ofdisturbing foam buildup.

The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice ofthe invention. it is obvious, however, that other expcdients known tothose skilled in the art may be employed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

I. Low foaming rinsing and washing compositions adapted for dishwashersconsisting essentially of (A) from 70 percent to 98 percent by weight ofwater-soluble polyvinyl alcohols obtained by hydrolysis of polyvinylacetates, having a hydrolysis degree of between 85 percent and 90percent and having a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 4,000, and(B) from 2 percent to 30 percent by weight of interface active compoundsbased on alkylene oxide adducts selected from the group consisting of l)a polyoxypropylene glycol having an average number of oxypropylene unitsof between 17 and 86, adducted with from 0 to 30 mol percent ofoxyethylene units, the total number of oxypropylene and oxyethyleneunits in said adduct being l00 moi percent (2) a propylene oxide adductof a hydrocarbon compound having from two to ID carbon atoms and atleast two reactive hydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting ofalk'anes, benzene and alkyibenzenes, substituted with substituentsselected from the group consisting of hydroxy, amino, and mixturesthereof, said propylene oxide adduct having an average number ofoxypropylene units of between and 84, adducted with from 0 to 30 molpercent of oxyethyiene units. the total number of oxypropylene units andoxyethylene units in said adduct being 100 mol percent and (3) analkylene oxide adduct of a hig molecular weight lipophilic radical ofthe formula:

R-Y-H wherein R represents a radical having from eight to 36 carbonatoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alitenyl, al-

kadienyl, monohydroxyalltenyl and allrylphenyl and Y represents abridging link selected from the group consisting of O, S, COO, NH, CONH,and SO,Nl-l; adducted first with oxp'ethylenc units and thereafter withoxyalkylene units se ccted from the group consisting of oxypropylene andoxybutyiene, said oxyethylcne being from 0 to 70 moi percent of thetotal amount of oxyaiityiene units present; from two to 90 oxypropyleneand oxybutylene units being present in said adduct.

2. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 whereinsaid water-soluble polyvinyl alcohols of component A are polyvinylalcohols having a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 3,000.

3. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 whereinsaid component B is a polyoxypropyiene glycol having an average numberof oxypropyiene units of between 29 and 70, adducted with from 0 to 30mol percent of oxyethylene units, the total amount of oxypropylene andoxyethylene units in said adduct being 100 mol percent.

4. The iow foaming rinsing and washing composition of claim 1 whereinsaid component B is a propylene oxide adduct of a hydrocarbon compoundhaving from two to l0 carbon atoms and at least two reactive hydrogenatoms selected from the group consisting of alkanes, benzene andalkylbenzenes, substituted with substitutents selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, amino, and mixtures thereof, said propylene oxideadduct having an average number of oxypropylene units of between 27 and68, adducted with from 0 to 30 moi percent of oxyethylene units, thetotal number of oxypropyiene and oxyethylene units in said adduct beinglOO moi percent.

5. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 whereinsaid component B is an alkyiene oxide adduct of a high molecular weightlipophilic radical of the formula:

wherein R represents a radical having from eight to 36 carbon atomsselected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkadienyl,monohydroxyalkenyl and alkylphenyl and Y represents a bridging linkselected from the group consisting of O, S, COO, NH, CONH, and SO NH:adducted first with oxyethylene units and thereafter with oxyalkyieneunits selected from the group consisting of oxypropylene andoxybutylene, said oxyethylene being from 0 to 70 mol percent of thetotal amount of oxyalkylene units present; from 2 to 90 exypropyiene andoxybutylene units being present in said adduct.

6. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 5 whereinsaid alkylene oxide adduct is the addition product of from 2 to 30 moisof propylene oxide to an alcohol having from eight to 22 carbon atomsselected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols and aikyiphenois.

7. The low-foaming rinsing and washing composition of claim 5 whereinsaid alkylene oxide adduct is the addition product of from 2 to 20 moisof ethylene oxide and from 2 to 30 mois of propylene oxide, to analcohol having from eight to 22 carbon atoms selected from the groupconsisting of fatty alcohols and aikylphenols, wherein at least 30 molpercent of said alkyiene oxides is propylene oxide.

8. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 whereinsaid component A is present in an amount of from percent to 98 percentby weight and said component B is present in an amount of from 2 percentto 15 percent by weight.

9. Aqueous concentrates containing from 10 percent to 30 percent byweight of the low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1.

10. The method of washing and rinsing solid articles which comprisesforcefully contacting said solid articles with water containing from0.0i to 0.5 grams per liter of the low-foaming rinsing and washingcompositions ofciaim 1.

s s s s

2. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 whereinsaid water-soluble polyvinyl alcohols of component A are polyvinylalcohols having a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 3,000.
 3. Thelow-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 wherein saidcomponent B is a polyoxypropylene glycol having an average number ofoxypropylene units of between 29 and 70, adducted with from 0 to 30 molpercent of oxyethylene units, the total amount of oxypropylene andoxyethylene units in said adduct being 100 mol percent.
 4. Thelow-foaming rinsing and washing composition of claim 1 wherein saidcomponent B is a propylene oxide adduct of a hydrocarbon compound havingfrom two to 10 carbon atoms and at least two reactive hydrogen atomsselected from the group consisting of alkanes, benzene andalkylbenzenes, substituted with substitutents selected from the groupconsisting of hydroxy, amino, and mixtures thereof, said propylene oxideadduct having an average number of oxypropylene units of between 27 and68, adducted with from 0 to 30 mol percent of oxyethylene units, thetotal number of oxypropylene and oxyeThylene units in said adduct being100 mol percent.
 5. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions ofclaim 1 wherein said component B is an alkylene oxide adduct of a highmolecular weight lipophilic radical of the formula: R-Y-H wherein Rrepresents a radical having from eight to 36 carbon atoms selected fromthe group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkadienyl, monohydroxyalkenyland alkylphenyl and Y represents a bridging link selected from the groupconsisting of O, S, COO, NH, CONH, and SO2NH: adducted first withoxyethylene units and thereafter with oxyalkylene units selected fromthe group consisting of oxypropylene and oxybutylene, said oxyethylenebeing from 0 to 70 mol percent of the total amount of oxyalkylene unitspresent; from 2 to 90 oxypropylene and oxybutylene units being presentin said adduct.
 6. The low-foaming rinsing and washing compositions ofclaim 5 wherein said alkylene oxide adduct is the addition product offrom 2 to 30 mols of propylene oxide to an alcohol having from eight to22 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols andalkylphenols.
 7. The low-foaming rinsing and washing composition ofclaim 5 wherein said alkylene oxide adduct is the addition product offrom 2 to 20 mols of ethylene oxide and from 2 to 30 mols of propyleneoxide, to an alcohol having from eight to 22 carbon atoms selected fromthe group consisting of fatty alcohols and alkylphenols, wherein atleast 30 mol percent of said alkylene oxides is propylene oxide.
 8. Thelow-foaming rinsing and washing compositions of claim 1 wherein saidcomponent A is present in an amount of from 85 percent to 98 percent byweight and said component B is present in an amount of from 2 percent to15 percent by weight.
 9. Aqueous concentrates containing from 10 percentto 30 percent by weight of the low-foaming rinsing and washingcompositions of claim
 1. 10. The method of washing and rinsing solidarticles which comprises forcefully contacting said solid articles withwater containing from 0.01 to 0.5 grams per liter of the low-foamingrinsing and washing compositions of claim 1.